Did the Prophets take drugs?

[El Brujo]

Either some of those "visions" the Biblical Prophets had must have been allegories, or drug-induced hallucinations.

 

On one hand, we're told Jonah was swallowed by a big fish... but we'd say Jonah was in a pickle. That doesn't mean he was actually inside a gigantic pickle, any more than he was swallowed by a big fish or a whale. It's just a Middle Eastern figure of speech.

 

But OTOH there's stuff like Moses seeing a bush burning but not being consumed by flame... and who the hell knows what Ezekiel saw? IMO these 2 guys must have been taking some kind of hallucinogenic drugs. That, or they had pretty severe schizophrenia. The ancients didn't have EEG machines, so they thought things like schizo hallucinations and epileptic seizures had to be caused by gods or demons... but they could have inadvertently ingested mind-altering drugs like ergot, which contains LSD.

[CarrieT]

There are a number of articles that have investigated and tested the annointing oils that have been found in archeological digs (yes, there have been traces of oils found within the clay pots) and have determined that those oils contain hallucinogenic properties.

 

Use our vernacular, "on drugs" if you like, but - yes - I believe that many of the mysteries that exist within the secret societies (both historical and modern) involve the ingesting of mind-altering substances.

 

It is a fact amongst many of the religious sects of South America - like Santo Daime - that involve the taking of hallucinogenic drugs.

[Eve]

Random bit off information -

 

Some Rastafarians refer to the Bible passage below as a thumbs up for smoking weed. The non tampered with mountain style weed (no THC) is supposed to be pretty good stuff, lol, which can bring on visions. They use it within their worship of God.

 

Obviously it is up to the individual to decide if the visions are self created and without purpose. Not bothered to argue that as there is no point.

 

Ezekiel 34:29 And I will raise up for them a plant of renown, and they shall be no more consumed with hunger in the land, neither bear the shame of the heathen any more.

 

Take care,

Eve x

Edited May 6, 2013 by Eve

[M30USA]

Here's what I can say, factually:

 

Similar brain chemistry changes occur in parts of the sleep cycle (especially in sleep paralysis) that occur during drug-induced altered mind states. This does not mean, however, that prophets were on drugs. Considering that the MAJORITY of visions in Bible occurred during DREAMS, I can safely assume this is the proper explanation.

Edited May 6, 2013 by M30USA